Darol Anger Biography

Darol Anger Biography

Darol Anger played fiddle to David Grisman's mandolin in The David Grisman Quintet's (DGQ) 1977 debut, and could be described as one of the foremost talents in progressive bluegerass music. He co-founded the Turtle Island String Quartet with David Balakrishnan in 1985 and performed, composed, and arranged for the chamber jazz group. He frequently collaborates with fellow DGQ alumnus Mike Marshall. Anger met pianist Barbara Higbie in Paris and formed a musical partnership with her. Together they released an early record on Windham Hill, Tideline (1982). Two years later, they formed a group called The Darol Anger/Barbara Higbie Quintet with Mike Marshall, Todd Phillips, and Andy Narell. This group performed at the 1984 Montreux Jazz Festival. The quintet later took the name Montreux. After two studio releases, the band broke up in 1990, and Anger continued with the Turtle Island String Quartet, founded in 1985. He still collaborates with Montreux and fellow Psychograss colleague, Mike Marshall, and occasionally also collaborates with Barbara Higbie and Michael Manring. Using classical, folk, and jazz music as springboards, he currently leads Republic Of Strings, with Scott Nygaard. He also co-founded The Duo (with Mike Marshall), Psychograss (the bluegrass group including Mike Marshall, mandolin; Todd Phillips, bass; David Grier, guitar; and Tony Trischka, banjo), and Fiddlers Four (with Michael Doucet, Bruce Molsky, violins; and Rushad Eggleston, cello). Anger also plays frequently with pianist Phil Aaberg. He has performed or recorded with musicians ranging from Tony Rice, Stephane Grappelli and Mark O'Connor to Marin Alsop, Bill Evans, Nickel Creek, Chris Thile & the Tensions Mountain Boys, Yonder Mountain String Band, Béla Fleck, and Taarka. Anger currently lives in Portland, Oregon, after moving from his long-time home in the San Francisco Bay Area.